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  • Banning ice cream and pizza in Milan?

  • This is News Review from BBC Learning English, where we help you understand news headlines in English. I'm Beth.

  • And I'm Phil.

  • Make sure you watch to the end to learn the vocabulary that you need to talk about this story.

  • And remember to subscribe to our channel to learn more English from the headlines.

  • Now today's story.

  • For many, ice cream, pizza and Italy go hand in hand.

  • Now, the northern city of Milan has plans to ban the sale of these famous Italian foods late at night.

  • The city's council is considering the move after complaints about noise from local residents.

  • Critics of the plan say it will damage local businesses.

  • You've been looking at the headlines, Phil.

  • What's the vocabulary that people need to understand this news story in English?

  • We have 'poised,' 'declares war on' and 'sort of.'

  • This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

  • Let's have our first headline.

  • This is from Euronews:

  • Why is Milan poised to ban ice cream and pizza after midnight?

  • So this headline asks why Milan is trying to ban pizza and ice cream.

  • We're looking at the word poised.

  • Phil, what can you tell us about it?

  • OK.

  • Well, literally, poised means in position and ready to act.

  • Maybe you think of an animal.

  • We might say that a snake is poised to strike.

  • And what that means is that the snake is looking at the mouse.

  • It's very still and just getting ready to jump on the mouse and eat it.

  • But here, poised is metaphorical.

  • We're not literally talking about an animal, but imagine the council ready to do something dramatic and that thing is to ban ice cream and pizza.

  • Yeah. So we often use poised to mean ready to do something, poised to act, poised to announce.

  • It has this idea of anticipation that there's something quite serious coming quite often.

  • Yes, and pizza and ice cream in Milan is definitely serious business.

  • OK, let's look at that again.

  • Let's have a look at our next headline.

  • This is from The Telegraph:

  • Italian city declares war on ice cream sellers.

  • So this headline, again, is about the Italian city Milan versus ice cream, ice cream sellers.

  • We're looking at declares war on.

  • This sounds very dramatic.

  • OK, yeah.

  • I mean, this isn't literal.

  • Literally is when one country says to another country, we're at war with you.

  • But this isn't that.

  • It's just talking about a confrontation.

  • There's a conflict or disagreement between the city council and the ice cream sellers.

  • Yes. So declare war on here in the headline is metaphorical.

  • And this reminds me of another phrase, which is the war on something.

  • Again, it's not really to do with the military or armies.

  • You might hear about the war on unemployment or the war on drugs.

  • What kind of situations do we hear it in usually?

  • OK, we often hear this from politicians or journalists reporting on politicians.

  • And when they announce a war on something, it means it's a problem they want to take strong action against.

  • So we could talk about this policy perhaps as a war on noise or a war on antisocial behaviour or something like that.

  • Yeah. OK, let's look at that again.

  • Let's have our next headline.

  • This is from the Metro:

  • Milan wants to ban gelato, pizza and other Italian favourites (sort of)

  • OK, so this headline is saying the same thing again.

  • It's all about banning that food in Milan.

  • We are looking at sort of.

  • I use this expression all the time, Phil.

  • Why do we use it?

  • OK, well, here we're using sort of to describe something that is like something else.

  • So we're saying this is like a ban.

  • It's not really a ban.

  • It's only after a certain time.

  • Yes, and something interesting about the pronunciation, it's written in the headline sort of, but when we pronounce it in spoken English, we say sorta or sort of.

  • Are there any other alternatives?

  • Well, kind of means the same, and that's often kinda or kind of.

  • Both of these expressions are very common in English as fillers, which are the words that we say when we're trying to think of the next word.

  • So often we'll sort of put another kind of word in the sort of gap.

  • Isn't that what it is? - Yeah, yeah.

  • I think you've kind of explained that quite well, but I think we should sort of just go and get ice cream now.

  • What do you think?

  • Actually, I think it'd be better if we kind of looked at that again.

  • Oh yeah, OK.

  • Let's look at that again.

  • We've had poised--ready for action.

  • Declares war on--tries to defeat.

  • And sort of--in a way, kind of.

  • If you want to know more about food and drink, just click here to watch more programmes.

  • And don't forget to click here to subscribe to our channel so you never miss another episode.

  • Thanks for joining us.

  • Bye.

  • Bye.

Banning ice cream and pizza in Milan?

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B1 ice cream milan cream headline war pizza

Milan ice cream ban: BBC News Review

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    林宜悉 posted on 2024/05/21
Video vocabulary

Keywords

literally

US /ˈlɪtərəli/

・

UK

  • adverb
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly as stated.
  • Used for emphasis to describe something that is actually true, often to highlight surprise or intensity.
  • Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling
  • In a literal manner or sense; exactly.
  • Used to indicate that something is effectively or virtually true, even if not technically so.
  • In a literal way; in fact; actually.
  • Used to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true but is used for rhetorical effect.
  • Used to acknowledge that something is not literally true but is used for emphasis or to express strong feeling.

B1

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subscribe

US /səbˈskraɪb/

・

UK /səb'skraɪb/

  • verb
  • To regularly pay to receive a service

B1 TOEIC

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episode

US /ˈɛpɪˌsod/

・

UK /'epɪsəʊd/

  • noun
  • An event or a short period of time that is important or unusual in some way
  • A part of a television or radio series that is broadcast separately.
  • An occurrence of a particular condition, sensation, or activity
  • A part of a television or radio series that is broadcast separately.
  • One separate event in a series of events
  • A distinct part or installment of a larger series, such as a television program or podcast.
  • Show which is part of a larger story
  • A part of a television or radio series broadcast on one occasion.
  • A part of a television or radio drama or situation comedy

B1 TOEIC

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sort

US /sɔrt/

・

UK /sɔ:t/

  • verb
  • To arrange things in a systematic way, typically into groups.
  • To arrange things in groups according to type.
  • To organize things by putting them into groups
  • To deal with things in an organized way
  • noun
  • A category of things or people with a common feature; a type.
  • Group or class of similar things or people

A1 TOEIC

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pronunciation

US /prəˌnʌnsiˈeʃən/

・

UK /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/

  • noun
  • How a word is said; how a word sounds
  • A representation of how a word is spoken, often using phonetic symbols.
  • A particular way of pronouncing words, often associated with a region or social group.
  • other
  • The way in which a word or language is spoken.
  • The manner in which someone utters a word.
  • A particular way of pronouncing words, often associated with a region or group.
  • other
  • A representation of how a word is spoken, often using phonetic symbols.
  • A particular way of pronouncing words, especially one that is characteristic of a region or group.

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phrase

US /frez/

・

UK /freɪz/

  • other
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • noun
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not a complete sentence.
  • A musical unit, often part of a larger melody.
  • Common expression or saying
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not necessarily a complete sentence.
  • Section of musical notes in a piece of music
  • A set of words used together
  • verb
  • To choose words to say what you mean clearly

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expression

US /ɪkˈsprɛʃən/

・

UK /ɪk'spreʃn/

  • noun
  • A look on someone's face that shows their feelings.
  • Act of making your thoughts and feelings known
  • Group of words that have a specific meaning
  • The act of making your feelings or opinions known.
  • A word or phrase.
  • The act of making one's thoughts or feelings known.
  • The manifestation of emotions, ideas, or qualities in art, music, or literature.
  • The manifestation of emotions, ideas, or feelings through artistic mediums.
  • The act of conveying thoughts, feelings, or information through words, gestures, or other means.
  • A look on someone's face that conveys a particular emotion.
  • A particular look or demeanor on someone's face that conveys emotion or thought.
  • A mathematical phrase combining numbers, symbols, and operators.
  • A mathematical phrase combining numbers, symbols, and operators.
  • The way in which music is performed to convey emotion
  • The act of making your opinions or feelings known.
  • A word or phrase used to convey a particular idea or feeling.
  • other
  • The process of conveying feelings or ideas through creative means
  • The act of expressing one's thoughts or feelings
  • The way a performer conveys emotion or feeling in their performance

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vocabulary

US /voˈkæbjəˌlɛri/

・

UK /və'kæbjələrɪ/

  • noun
  • Words that have to do with a particular subject
  • The body of words used in a particular language.
  • The words that a person knows
  • other
  • The range of words known to or used by a particular person or group of people.

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conflict

US /ˈkɑnˌflɪkt/

・

UK /'kɒnflɪkt/

  • verb
  • (of two things) be incompatible or at variance; clash.
  • To have opposite ideas; to disagree; To not match
  • noun
  • A serious disagreement or argument.
  • Argument or struggle between two or more parties
  • Mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands
  • A serious incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles, or interests.
  • A prolonged armed struggle; war
  • other
  • To be incompatible or at variance; clash.

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common

US /ˈkɑmən/

・

UK /'kɒmən/

  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • A piece of open land for public use.
  • A piece of open land for public use.
  • Field near a village owned by the local community
  • adjective
  • Lacking refinement; vulgar.
  • Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent.
  • (of a noun) denoting a class of objects or a concept as opposed to a particular individual.
  • Without special rank or position; ordinary.
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • Lacking refinement; vulgar.
  • Found all over the place.

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